Recent charges laid by London’s Municipal Law Enforcement Officers have led to fines and Prohibition Orders for landlords who violated residential zoning regulations.
In one case, Marek Mokracki was convicted of creating a basement apartment in a residential zone which permitted only one dwelling per property and was fined $750.
In another case, Medhi Shahabi was fined $1,000 and issued a Prohibition Order for permitting a building to be used for six dwelling units in a residential zone which permits only two dwelling units. Failure to comply with a Prohibition Order could lead to contempt of court charges.
Zoning by-laws establish and regulate the use of land by implementing the policies of a city's Official Plan. They provide cities with a way to coordinate land uses, protect areas by preventing incompatible uses, and establish appropriate standards for development .
“We continue to investigate complaints of illegal residential units,” says Orest Katolyk, Manager of By-Law Enforcement.
“While our main concern is for the safety of the tenants, the issues of aesthetics and compatibility are also important for London’s neighbourhoods.
The majority of property owners comply with zoning by-laws when advised of violations.”Since 2000, approximately 50 charges have been laid for a variety of zoning by-law violations.
Additional landlords have been charged with violating the City’s zoning by-law and are awaiting trials.
Perspective and existing landlords seeking zoning information should visit the City’s building division on the 7th floor of City Hall or on the web at www.london.ca.
